[MD] subject/object: pragmatism

[Platt Holden]

> [Platt] Seems to work pretty well in everyday life. It always amazes me that
> they can land the shuttle with pinpoint accuracy. Besides, I'd say there is
> a 100 percent probability that apples will not fall from trees up.
> 
> [Krimel]
> Newtonian determinism does not work at all in everyday life. It is an
> illusion. But the real problem was not so much determinism per se as the
> belief that determinism equals prediction. We have discussed this at length
> several times, I am frankly at a loss to explain the persistence of this
> illusion.

[Platt]
I don't know the difference between Newtonian determinism and plain old 
determinism but in any case determinism works just fine for me in everyday 
life. I eat when I'm hungry and drink when I'm dry. 
 
> [Platt] Unpredictable responses to DQ as exemplified in the brujo
> story don't fit a deterministic worldview.
> 
> [Krimel]
> I don't recall that the issue of predictability came up in the brujo
> discussion. But the point is the range of options available in a time of
> upheaval it restricted. The brujo was operating well within that range of
> probabilities. But please find some other example I really don't want to
> rehash the inappropriateness of this one.

[Platt}
As far as I can tell there is nothing in your worldview that is outside the 
range of probabilities. 

>  [Platt]
> "Chance" is no better explanation for a singular event than "miracle."
> 
> [Krimel]
> I would say that miracle or divine will are no better explanations than
> "chance".

[Platt]
So were even on that score. :-)